From New York’s Chelsea neighborhood come two very inventive visual projects, opening in January.

Matt Parker, veteran of New York University’s ITP brain-building program (don’t ask what it stands for), leads research at NYC’s Eyebeam in some seriously-cool volumetric display tech. With the addition of Kinect, it takes on a human element. And an upcoming DIY kit means you’ll soon be able to build one of these yourself.

Lumarca is a truly volumetric display which allows viewers to see three dimensional images and motion. The system requires only a computer, a projector, and common materials found at most hardware stores. This provides an affordable platform for artists to design compelling content that conveys information, narrative, and aesthetic information in a new way. Lumarca is a collaboration between Albert Hwang, Matt Parker, and Elliot Woods.

Parker and Hwang are working now at the Eyebeam research center. Their work will open on January 12 in a new show there. Eyebeam’s Wiley Aker explains:

It’s a volumetric display, allowing visitors to see three-dimensional digital animations in real 3d space. The installation, made of a computer, a projector, and common materials found at most hardware stores, provides an affordable platform for artists to design compelling content that conveys 3d information and narrative in a new aesthetic way.

But wait – there’s more. Parker also has a Processing-powered piece called MahungArt up in the window in January.

Mama said there’d be days like these. You know… floating in a bikini by the Hubble. Been there. Image: GIFPUMPER.

And also part of the Jan 12 opening is GIFPUMPER, by resident Slava Balasanov, which Aker tells us is “basically a collaborative, real-time website for creating 3d, animated GIF mashups.” Of course it is. The image above gives you some taste of the resulting mayhem. (For now, invite required. Ask nicely.)